Adult Education: Finance

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what Government funding for adult education courses there has been in each year since 1997 for which records are available, broken down by local authority in the East of England.

Bill Rammell: The total funding allocated to providers for adult learners in the East of England region is set out in the following table. It includes funding for further education, work based learning and adult community learning for all years, with train to gain funding included for 2006/07 and 2007/08.
	It is not possible to breakdown funding by local authority as the data is not recorded on this basis. However information on adult funding by local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the period 2002/03 to 2005/06 is available in the LSC's published accounts.
	
		
			   Funding totals (£) 
			 2002/03 146,697,284 
			 2003/04 179,728,472 
			 2004/05 189,506,465 
			 2005/06 179,843,435 
			 2006/07 191,905,491 
			 2007/08(1) 191,950,721 
			 Totals 1,079,631,868 
			 (1) Train to gain funding included in the total for this year is based on contract values, providers will only secure the funding is they are successful in delivering to the expected number of learners. 
		
	
	The LSC Statement of Priorities 2008-11 published on 16 November sets out the Government's funding strategy for 2008-09 to 2010-11.
	Total investment through the Learning and Skills Council will increase from £11.2 billion in 2007-08 to £12.4 billion in 2010-11. Funding for adult participation will increase to £3.6 billion by 2010-11, an increase of 17 per cent. compared with 2007-08.
	We will also be substantially increasing investment for adult learning through train to gain from £440 million in 2007-08 to over £1 billion by 2010-11. Taking into account both FE allocations and train to gain funding, 90 per cent. of all colleges will have the opportunity to increase their funding in 2007/08 compared with 2006/07, with 57 per cent. earning 5 per cent. or more (some of these colleges will be leading consortia).
	Our priority is to make sure that adult learners have access to a full range of courses including progression and first steps learning through the foundation learning tier, learning for its own intrinsic value (personal and community development learning) as well as courses which lead to full qualifications necessary for employment. That is why we are investing around £1.5 billion per year on learning below level 2 over the next three years. The recently published "Adult Learning and Skills: Investing in the First Steps" sets the story of our investment in this area and our vision for adult learners who have not yet obtained basic skills.

Islam: Education

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and universities are taking to address the gaps in Islamic studies teaching and research highlighted in the report Islam at Universities in England—meeting the needs and investing in the future; and how the HEFCE intends to spend the £1 million the Government committed to this work in June 2007.

Bill Rammell: Following the report "Islam at Universities in England", we designated Islamic studies as a strategically important subject in Higher Education. This was on the grounds of its contribution to the UK's political and cultural capital through its role in promoting understanding of Islam in the context of the world today. HEFCE are looking a longer term proposals to address the problem identified by Dr. Siddiqui that currently Islamic studies teaching and research does not address the dominant Muslim experience of the faith and its culture in Britain and is too focused on a Middle Eastern perspective and does not address the experience of living as a minority faith in a multi-cultural society.
	HEFCE have set aside £1 million for 2007-08 to undertake development and research work and produce longer term proposals for addressing the gaps in Islamic studies teaching and research highlighted in the report. This development phase is well under way and we expect detailed proposals from HEFCE in summer 2008.

National Security

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the Statement of the Prime Minister of 14 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 667-72, on national security, when he expects the investigation of the Higher Education Funding Council into setting up a European Centre of Excellence for Islamic students to be complete; what he expects its cost to be; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I expect the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to report on the feasibility of establishing a European centre of excellence for Islamic Studies in summer 2008. That report would include an estimate of the costs of such a centre.
	In April this year, we responded to the report by Dr Siddiqui on Islam in Universities by defining Islamic studies as a strategically important subject in Higher Education. This was on the grounds of its contribution to the UK's political and cultural capital through its role in promoting understanding of Islam in the context of the world today. HEFCE are looking a longer term proposals to address the problem identified by Dr Siddiqui that currently Islamic studies teaching and research does not address the dominant Muslim experience of the faith and its culture in Britain and is too focused on a Middle Eastern perspective and doesn't address the experience of living as a minority faith in a multi-cultural society.
	The investigation of the idea of European centre of excellence will form part of HEFCE's work to develop a long term response, in partnership with Government and the university sector to the shortcomings in Islamic studies identified in Dr Siddiqui's report. We aim to establish the UK as an international benchmark for Islamic studies outside the Islamic world.

Students: Loans

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cost of writing off unpaid student loans was in each year since their introduction.

Bill Rammell: Loans are cancelled due to the borrower's death; being disabled and permanently unable to work; or, for loans issued before 2006/07, on age grounds. New students from 2006 will have any remaining balance cancelled after 25 years. Student loans are not written-off simply because they are unpaid.
	The available data are given in the table.
	
		
			  Value of student loans cancelled—borrowers domiciled in the UK to 2001-02, England from 2002-03—financial year loan cancelled 
			  Financial year  Cost (£ million) 
			 1990-91 — 
			 1991-92 — 
			 1992-93 0.1 
			 1993-94 0.2 
			 1994-95 0.3 
			 1995-96 0.5 
			 1996-97 0.9 
			 1997-98 1.0 
			 1998-99 0.9 
			 1999-2000(1) 1.2 
			 2000-01 1.1 
			 2001-02 1.4 
			   
			 2002-03 2.0 
			 2003-04 2.7 
			 2004-05(2) 2.4 
			 2005-06(2) 4.5 
			 2006-07(3) 5.5 
			 '(—)' = Less than £50,000 (1) 1999-2000 includes some transactions which related to the previous year. (2) 2005-06 includes some transactions which could not be processed in the previous year for operational reasons. (3) 2006-07 data are provisional.  Source: Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Separate England data are not available before 2002-03.
	The increase in the value of loans cancelled is related to the increase in the loans portfolio, which has been growing since student loans were introduced in 1990. For English domiciled students the value of the portfolio has increased from £8.8 billion in March 2003 to £18.1 billion (provisional) in March 2007.
	Student loans from the Government are not like commercial loans: interest is paid at the rate of inflation, so in real terms students only pay back what they borrowed. For income contingent loans available since 1998, repayment is linked to earnings and borrowers only repay if their earnings are over £15,000; from April 2012 they will be able to take up to five years' 'Repayment Holiday' and those taking out a student loan from 2006 have their debt cancelled after 25 years.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Sick Leave

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Police Service of Northern Ireland  (a) regular and  (b) full-time reserve officers were on paid sick leave caused by stress in each financial year from 2002-03.

Paul Goggins: The number of  (a) regular and  (b) full-time reserve officers that were absent on grounds of stress (work related and non work related) during the years for which figures are requested is detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   Regular officers  Full-time reserve officers 
			 2002-03 377 156 
			 2003-04 337 138 
			 2004-05 322 91 
			 2005-06 268 33 
			 2006-07 282 22 
		
	
	The figures include all officers who took paid and unpaid sick leave at any time in each year. The number of officers absent and unpaid varies over the course of a year.

Prisons: Mobile Phones

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many mobile telephones were seized in prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The following table sets out the number of mobile phones found in Northern Ireland prisons in each of the last 12 months.
	
		
			   Maghaberry  Maghilligan  Hydebank 
			 December 2006 4 3 0 
			 January 2007 1 1 0 
			 February 2007 4 2 0 
			 March 2007 2 5 0 
			 April 2007 1 3 0 
			 May 2007 1 5 2 
			 June 2007 1 4 0 
			 July 2007 2 2 0 
			 August 2007 1 5 0 
			 September 2007 1 2 0 
			 October 2007 8 5 0 
			 November 2007 2 4 0 
			 Total 28 41 2

Equal Pay

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality whether an equal pay audit  (a) has been conducted and  (b) is planned for the Government Equalities Office.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 3 December 2007
	No equal pay audit has been conducted since the Government Equalities Office was announced by the Prime Minister on 26 July 2007 and set up as a stand alone Department on 12 October 2007. As a matter of good practice, the Office would plan to conduct an equal pay audit, however no timetable has been set for this as yet.

Departmental Secondment

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from his Office in each year since 1997; which organisations staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. The Office does not directly employ staff and does not second staff to other organisations. All staff in the Office are on loan from other Government Departments, such as the Scottish Executive and Ministry of Justice; information on staff numbers is published in the Office's Annual Report, a copy of which is in the House Library. The Office does not keep central records in a form that would allow the cost of each loan to be identified.

Corporate Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House on how many occasions she has accepted corporate hospitality in the last 12 months.

Harriet Harman: In the last 12 months, my right hon. Friend the then Leader of the House until 28 June 2007 (Mr. Straw) nor I (Leader of the House of Commons since then) have received corporate hospitality that has not already been declared in the Register of Members' Interests.

Crimes of Violence

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department have had with the Metropolitan police on proposals for police officers to meet identified gang members to discuss levels of gang related violence; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office is working closely with the Metropolitan police and local partners in the Five Borough Alliance who are taking forward a range of action as part of the Tackling Gangs Action Programme.
	This work may include a pilot informed, among other elements, by an operating model established in Boston, under which members of a local community, supported by the police and local authorities, are given the opportunity to make it clear to gang members that violence will not be tolerated. This is then backed up by support for those wishing to exit gangs, and robust enforcement should any further violence occur. In Boston the model took some 18 months to put together, and it is considered critical that all the relevant elements are fully in place before the London model is launched, in order to ensure its effectiveness.
	The London Guns, Gangs and Weapons Reduction Board will be developing this model in partnership with the community.

Australia: Peacekeeping Operations

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on the UK's defence policy of the Australian Prime Minister's stated intention to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq.

Des Browne: The Australian Government gave an election commitment to withdraw combat forces from Iraq and to consult with the Iraqi, US, and UK governments. There is no reason why withdrawal of such forces will have an effect on the UK's defence policy.

Iraq: Detainees

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any individuals captured by British forces during the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have at any subsequent time been held at the United States detention facility at Guantánamo Bay.

Des Browne: holding answer 28 November 2007
	When we transfer captured individuals into the custody of the United States and the Iraqi authorities in Iraq, and into the custody of the Afghan authorities in Afghanistan, we have an understanding with the relevant government that the transferred individual cannot be removed from the country without our agreement. We have at no time given our consent for any individual to be transferred to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

Departmental Data Protection

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what mechanisms his Department has in place to ensure that databases containing personal information on members of the general public are not accessed  (a) by unauthorised staff and  (b) by authorised staff for unauthorised purposes;
	(2)  how many staff of each grade in his Department have access to electronic databases which contain personal information on members of the general public;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to protect the personal data on members of the public which it holds.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Leisure

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of people who regularly undertook  (a) recreational walking,  (b) recreational cycling and  (c) yoga in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This level of detail on participation in these sports is not available. However, the following data is available.
	The General Household Survey collected sport and physical activity participation data in 2002 for adults aged 16 and over. The survey measured "activity in at least one sport, game or physical activity in the four weeks before interview".
	
		
			   Percentage  Population (number) 
			 Recreational Walking 34.9 13,690,431 
			 Recreational Cycling 9.0 3,530,484 
		
	
	There was no equivalent figure for yoga in 2002 as it was combined with other keep fit activities.
	Since 2005, the DCMS Taking Part survey has collected sport and physical activity participation data for adults aged 16 and over.
	The definition of 'regularly' in this case is at least one occasion in the four weeks before interview. The data relates to all adults in 2005-06. Population figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand. The Taking Part survey did not disaggregate recreational cycling from other forms of cycling. Therefore the following figures are for all forms of cycling.
	
		
			   Percentage  Population (number) 
			 Walking (health, recreation or rambling) 52.4 20,792,000 
			 Cycling (health, recreation, training or competition) 9.7 3,861,000 
			 Yoga 2.5 1,006,000

Postal Services

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many items of post sent by his Department were reported missing by the intended recipient in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on departments' procedures will be made on completion of the review.

Sports: School Leavers

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 550-1W, on sports: school leavers, what percentage of people aged  (a) 11 to 15,  (b) 16,  (c) 17 to 18 and  (d) 19 years and over participated in sport in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: This level of detail on sports participation is not available.
	Before 2005, the general household survey collected sport participation data in
	2002 for adults aged 16 and over.
	The survey measured "activity in at least one sport, game or physical activity in the four weeks before interview".
	
		
			  Age  2002  percentage 
			 16-19 72 
			 All adults (16+) 43 
		
	
	Since 2005, the DCMS Taking Part survey has collected sport participation data
	broken down by age, from 11 and over.
	The previous answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 550-51W, contains participation data for the age groups in question, collected in 2005-6.

Union Flag

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the comments of the Minister of State on 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 121, on the Union Flag, when the Government plans to make a decision on the re-design of the Union Flag under consideration.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are currently reviewing the rules on flying the Union Flag on government buildings. As part of that review, a public consultation has been carried out and there have been some comments on the design of the flag along with a number of other points that were outside the scope of the consultation.
	All views will be considered as part of the consultation although there are no plans to change the design at present.

Chiltern Railways: Greater London

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether  (a) Transport for London and  (b) the Mayor of London's Office made any approach to her to take responsibility for the routes into Marylebone operated by Chiltern Railways; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: There are no records of an approach by either  (a) Transport for London or  (b) the Mayor of London's office requesting a change in responsibilities for Chiltern Railways routes into London Marylebone.

Renewable Transport Fuels

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the Government's renewable transport fuels obligation will come from exported sources by 2010; and what estimate she has made of the percentage of these fuels which will come from sustainable sources.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) will create a demand for some 2.5 billion litres per annum of biofuel by 2010-11. This demand is likely to be met through a mixture of domestically produced and imported biofuels. The Government does not have a precise estimate of the likely split between the two. In theory, and provided a number of large UK biofuel production plants which are currently at the planning stage come on stream by 2010, UK farmers and producers could produce enough biofuel to meet this demand in full. Whether or not they do depends on a wide range of factors including the relative costs of UK-produced and imported biofuels.
	From day one of the RTFO in April 2008, transport fuel suppliers will be required to report on the sustainability of their biofuels in order to earn any certificates in respect of them. This will create an incentive on suppliers to source only those biofuels which deliver genuine environmental benefits.

Travel

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of journeys made by  (a) car,  (b) train,  (c) bus and  (d) aircraft in each of the next 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: Recent road traffic forecasts by the Department are available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/roadpricing/research trafficcongestion
	Rail forecasts were published alongside the White Paper, Delivering a Sustainable Railway at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/white papercm7176/
	A range of documents are available specifically about the forecasts at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/strategy/whitepapers/white papercm7176/railwhitepaperresearch
	The latest departmental aviation forecasts are available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/ukair demandandco2forecasts

Travel: Concessions

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the funding of the nationwide pensioner travel concessionary scheme in 2008; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the cost to local authorities of introducing the nationwide pensioner concessionary travel scheme in 2008.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 29 November 2007
	From 1 April 2008, people aged 60 and over and eligible disabled people in England will be entitled to free off-peak local bus travel 'anywhere' in England, not just within their local area as at present.
	There have been various discussions between Department for Communities and Local Government and the Department for Transport, both at official and ministerial level. The Government are providing local authorities in England an extra £212 million/£217 million/£223 million for the next three years. This extra funding is based on generous assumptions about the probable cost impact of the new concession, including visitor 'hot spots'. We are confident this funding will be sufficient in aggregate.
	The existing funding for concessionary fares is, and will continue to be, distributed by the Department for Communities and Local Government via the formula grant system. There was no significant support among local government to extract the existing funding for statutory concessions from the formula grant system.
	The extra funding for the national bus concession will be distributed by the Department for Transport via a special grant. The decision to use a special grant reflects both the views of local government and the challenges of deriving a formula distribution that matches the probable cost impact of the new concession, taking into account popular tourist resorts and large transport hubs. We anticipate transferring this additional funding into the formula grant process at the beginning of the next three-year settlement period (2011-12).
	The Department for Transport's consultation on the formula basis for the distribution of the special grant closed on 23 November. A provisional view on the distribution will be made in due course and will be finalised by a parliamentary debate in the new year.

Council Tax Benefit

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to increase the take-up rate of council tax benefit.

James Plaskitt: I been asked to reply.
	Council tax benefit (CTB) take-up is lowest among pensioners and they are therefore our priority. One phone call to The Pension Service can give customers access to four benefits—pension credit, state retirement pension, CTB and housing benefit (HB). A simple claim form for HB/CTB is completed for the customer. All they need to do is check it, sign it and send it back.
	We are taking other measures to promote the take up of CTB. There are annual awareness campaigns. We have provided local authorities with best practice guidance that contains information about barriers to claiming, ways of overcoming them, and case study examples of good practice to improve take-up. We have supported the simple claim form arrangements with computer scans run by The Pension Service to discover people getting pension credit but not CTB and this information is passed to local authorities. We encourage local authorities to do take-up activity through our performance standards and have awarded £2.2 million to 38 authorities to increase CTB take-up.
	In the longer term, we want to deliver CTB as accessibly, simply and securely as possible. We want to research the feasibility of using data held "across Government" to build profiles of people likely to be entitled. We also want to develop the concept of a "single point of contact" for pensioners, coupled with alignment of application processes that will provide greater efficiency and a better public service.

Business Premises: Fire Extinguishers

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration her Department has given to the merits of making sprinkler systems compulsory in new large business premises.

Parmjit Dhanda: The recent review of the fire safety aspects in Part B of the Building Regulations considered fire safety in all types of premises and the important role that sprinklers and other types of fire protection measures may have. A number of changes were made, following extensive research and full public consultation. These changes came into force in April this year and were supported by a Regulatory Impact Assessment setting out the costs and benefits of the changes.
	For a number of years, sprinklers have been asked for in a range of situations under the Building Regulations, such as the majority of tall (30 m+) buildings and buildings with large compartments (e.g. shops with a compartment over 2,000 m(2)). The amended Part B gives greater recognition to the role of sprinklers for life safety and the accompanying guidance has been expanded, where justified, to include their use in a wider range of situations. These include in tall (30 m+) blocks of flats, certain care homes and in large single storey storage buildings.
	In addition, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to both new and existing non-domestic buildings, requires that the responsible person for a premises carry out a risk assessment and take necessary fire precautions to ensure the safety of the occupants of the building. This could include the provision of sprinklers, where it is justified by the risk. It is also open for property owners and their insurers to consider the benefits of sprinklers for property protection and business continuity.

Community Development

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's timetable is for implementing the recommendations of the Quirk Review.

John Healey: holding answer 29 November 2007
	In May 2007, the Government accepted the recommendations of the Quirk Review and published "Opening the Transfer window: the governments response to the Quirk Review of community management and ownership of public assets". This details specific actions to be taken with partners to take forward the implementation of the Review, and specifies a timetable to 2009. It also commits Communities and Local Government to a review in 2008, to consider what further action should be taken in the light of progress made.

Departmental Land

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what land surplus to her Department's requirements it is  (a) selling,  (b) leasing and  (c) intending to (i) sell and (ii) lease; and what the size and name of each relevant site is.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government does not have any surplus land it is selling or leasing and neither does it have any surplus land it is intending to sell or lease.
	This response does not include land held by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments or it's other sponsored bodies.

Development Plans: Public Participation

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities' area action plans have been deemed  (a) sound and  (b) unsound by planning inspectors after public examination.

Iain Wright: holding answer 29 November 2007
	The following local authorities have:
	
		
			  (a) Had Area Action Plans found Sound (Approved) 
			  Local authority  Title 
			 South Cambridgeshire DC Cambridge Southern Fringe AAP 
			 South Cambridgeshire DC Northstowe AAP 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne Council Walker Riverside Area Action Plan DPD 
			 Portsmouth Council Southsea Town Centre Area Action Plan 
			 Plymouth Council Millbay/Stonehouse Area Action Plan 
			 Plymouth Council North Plymstock (including Minerals) AAP 
			 Plymouth Council Devonport Area Action Plan 
			 South Hams DC Sherford New Community Area Action Plan 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands DC AAP Biddulph Town Centre 
			   
			 Total 9 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Had Area Action Plans found Unsound (Refused) 
			  Local  a uthority  Title 
			 Restormal BC Newquay AAP 
			   
			 Total 1

Green Belt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the existing versions of the regional spatial strategies have to review the green belt designations in each Government office region.

Iain Wright: The following summarises the proposals in the existing versions of the regional spatial strategies regarding the green belt in each Government office region:
	 North East— p roposed changes stage
	Policy 6.5 ensures that the green belt continues to safeguard the countryside from encroachment and check the unrestricted sprawl of Tyne and Wear.
	 North West— c urrently preparing proposed changes
	Policy RDF5, no need for any exceptional change to the Greater Manchester, Mersey side, Cheshire and Lancashire green belts until 2011 and the Warrington green belt until 2021.
	 Yorkshire and Humber— p roposed changes published for consultation
	Policy YH9 confirms that the extent of the green belt in Yorkshire and Humber should not be changed, but that localised boundary reviews may be needed in order to deliver development in the most sustainable locations. Specific mention is made to defining the green belt around York and the potential need for strategic reviews in parts of West Yorkshire.
	 East Midlands— c urrently preparing proposed changes
	The EIP into the East Midlands Draft RSS closed on 19 July 2007 and the EIP Chair's Panel Report was published 28 November 2007. The Independent Panel Chair recommended a strategic review of the boundaries of the existing green belt to the north, east and south of Nottingham. Any future review of the green belt will be conducted in line with the process set out in PPG2.
	 West Midlands Phase 1— p roposed changes published and Phase 2 is due to be submitted in December 2007
	Phase 1 proposes no change to the extent of the existing green belt in the Black Country and Phase 2 is still being developed, so policies on the extent of the existing green belt have not yet been defined.
	 East of England— p roposed changes published for consultation
	Policy SS7, the broad extent of green belts in the East of England is appropriate, and will be maintained. However, strategic reviews of green belt boundaries are needed in the following areas to meet regional development needs at the most sustainable locations:
	Stevenage, involving land in Stevenage and North Hertfordshire;
	Kernel Hempstead, involving land in Decorum and probably St. Albans district;
	Harlow, involving land in Harlow, East Hertfordshire and Epping Forest district; and
	Welwyn/Hatfield, involving land in Welwyn Hatfield district and potentially St. Albans district;
	Broxbourne.
	 South East— c urrently preparing proposed changes
	Policy CC10a, the existing green belts in the region will be retained and supported and the opportunity should be taken to improve their land-use management and access as part of initiatives to improve the urban rural fringe. If there are any cases for small scale local review, these can be pursued through the LDF process.
	 South West— a waiting panel report before beginning proposed changes process
	Policy 3.35, the extent of the green belt, is revised in policies SR3, SR11 and SR27 (Section 4), based on a strategic green belt review, to accommodate urban extensions required in the West of England in Cheltenham/Gloucester and South Dorset.
	 London
	There are currently no green belt reviews planned in the London region.

Housing Benefit: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on housing benefit in (a) Peterborough constituency and (b) Peterborough City Council area in each of the last 10 years.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply
	Information on Housing Benefit expenditure is not available at constituency level.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure for Peterborough local authority district 
			   £ million 
			 1997-98 31.7 
			 1998-99 31.0 
			 1999-2000 31.2 
			 2000-01 31.6 
			 2001-02 32.0 
			 2002-03 33.3 
			 2003-04 32.7 
			 2004-05 32.3 
			 2005-06 36.7 
			 2006-07 40.0 
			  Notes: 1. Information sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit subsidy. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000. 3. Figures prior to 2006-07 are audited, but may change in future if local authorities' audited accounts are amended after a decision or appeal. Figures for recent years are more likely to be amended than older data. 4. 2006-07 figures are initial final (pre-audited) and are subject to change. 5. From 1999-2000 onwards, housing benefit expenditure on asylum seekers was funded by the National Asylum Support Service, and is therefore excluded from the figures presented at Great Britain. However, local authority level information includes all expenditure on these benefits relating to asylum seekers, as it is not possible to isolate at this level that part which applies to asylum seekers. 6. Figures relate to what local authorities spend on claimants, and include discretionary expenditure (mainly disregards of war pensions), and overpayments except where benefit has been granted in advance (where the benefit is paid in the form of a rebate).  Source: DWP Benefit expenditure tables 
		
	
	DWP housing benefit and council tax benefit expenditure tables are available online at:
	http://www.dwp. gov.uk/asd/asd4/HBandCTB_expenditure. asp

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people remain displaced from their homes due to the floods in June and July in England.

John Healey: holding answer 4 December 2007
	With our encouragement, local authorities have improved their collection of data about displaced households in recent weeks and we are currently working with Government Offices and local authorities to compile an updated estimate of the number of households that remain displaced as a result of the floods in June and July. Once we have the result of this exercise we will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to facilitate the return of displaced families to their homes following the summer 2007 floods.

John Healey: holding answer 4 December 2007
	We expect all local authorities to have plans and procedures in place to tackle emergency repairs and homelessness, and indications are that these have worked well in the aftermath of the summer floods. Government officials and homelessness specialist advisors have been in contact with some of the affected areas, to offer support for local authorities as they help their local communities.
	At a national level, the Government are making sure that local authorities and other agencies are supported to help householders, business and communities get back to normal as far as possible without unnecessary delays. To date we have made available a comprehensive package of up to £63 million to assist the affected regions, including up to £20 million in flood recovery grant from Communities and Local Government to support the recovery work of local authorities, and particularly their work with those in greatest and most immediate need. Local authorities have the flexibility to decide how to best to use the grant based on their own local circumstances. In practice, this has covered a wide range of action, including support payments to flood affected households, and provision of temporary caravans to allow people to remain within their communities while houses are repaired.
	Flood affected local authorities have also been able apply to Communities and Local Government for help through the Bellwin scheme which provides financial assistance to local authorities dealing with emergencies. Exceptionally, the terms of the present schemes, have been made more generous because of the circumstances of the recent floods. 50 local authorities have registered for assistance for the June scheme and 52 have registered for the July scheme. 20 local authorities have registered for both schemes. Authorities have six months to spend under this scheme and two have now submitted interim claims.
	The Government continues to work closely with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to establish how the insurance industry is dealing with policy holders who have been hit by the floods. The ABI has made clear the insurance industry's commitment to maintaining momentum over coming months in dealing with outstanding claims. However, it will still take time for some properties to dry out before the necessary repairs can be carried out, and this means that some people will not be back in their homes until next year.

Housing: Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent meetings she has held with the local authorities affected by the summer 2007 floods where households are still displaced.

John Healey: holding answer 4 December 2007
	CLG Ministers, including the Secretary of State, have made a series of visits to those areas worst affected by the summer floods, including those areas where people remain displaced from their homes. As flood recovery Minister I have visited the City of Kingston upon Hull a number of times since the floods in June, with the most recent visit taking place on 14 November.
	I and other CLG Ministers have also made various visits to other affected local authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber region, Nottinghamshire, and the South West. The Prime Minister visited several of the worst affected areas in the immediate aftermath of the floods, including Gloucester and Hull.
	These visits have been useful opportunities for Ministers to meet local authority staff and members who are leading recovery efforts, and visits to affected areas will continue.

Planning Permission: Quarrying

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dormant quarries have planning permission for mineral extraction in  (a) the North West and  (b) England.

Iain Wright: Legislation introduced in 1991 for the review of old mining consents, and in 1995 for the review of old mineral permissions, defines mineral sites as 'dormant' if no mineral development has been carried out to any substantial extent in, respectively, the period 1 May 1989 to 30 April 1991 and the period 22 February 1982 to 6 June 1995. British Geological Survey data records 487 dormant mineral sites in England in 2006, of which 88 are in the North West.

Regional Development Agencies

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  when she expects regional assemblies to transfer responsibility for regional housing and planning matters to regional development agencies;
	(2)  what the procedure will be for designating regional development agencies as regional planning bodies.

Iain Wright: The transfer of regional planning body designation to regional development agencies will require primary legislation.
	The Government will be consulting on the detailed implementation of the transfer early in 2008.
	The Government aims to put new arrangements in place by 2010.

Somaliland

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department is providing for the development of democratic processes in the Republic of Somaliland.

Shahid Malik: DFID is contributing over £1 million to a Democratisation Programme in Somaliland.
	The programme, implemented by Interpeace, currently supports the National Electoral Commission to:
	develop its capacity;
	produce a credible voter registration system and
	deliver free and fair elections.
	It also supports civil society to engage in the democratic process.

IT: Africa

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department has to provide children in Africa with access to information technology.

Gareth Thomas: The majority of DFID's bilaterial aid to education in Africa is provided through sector and budget support. Decisions on investment priorities are made locally by the recipient government. DFID funds are used to support IT in schools through teaching training; through our multilateral funding of organisat ions like the Commonwealth of Learning, who provide expertise on both software and hardware; and though our policy dialogue with governments and the new partnership for Africa's development (NEPAD) on the role of IT in schools

Bangladesh

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government have taken to provide aid and assistance to Bangladesh to deal with the damage caused by Cyclone Sidr.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government has provided £7 million for cyclone Sidr relief in Bangladesh. The first tranche of £2.5 million went through the Bangladesh United nations development programme (UNDP).
	An additional £2.5 million was announced by the Secretary of State on 23 November to be programmed through three international NGOs.
	A further £2 million announced by the Secretary of State on 28 November to support the short to medium-term response.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines issued to staff maintaining his Department's corporate identity; and what the estimated annual cost is of  (a) producing and  (b) complying with such guidelines.

Shahid Malik: I have placed a copy of DFID's Identity Standards in the Library of the House.
	The Identity Standards booklet was produced in financial year 2005-06 and cost £21,504.50 to produce. There are no ongoing production costs, as the booklet has not to date been reprinted.
	The booklet was a refinement of existing guidance into one easy to use package for staff to refer to, so there were no initial compliance costs. This has led to substantial time savings for staff in having consistent, easily accessible guidance across all applications. The only ongoing compliance cost is a small amount of Communications Division staff time for guidance and monitoring compliance. This is a routine function of the Communications Division and it is not possible to disaggregate the precise time or cost involved.

End of Custody Licence Scheme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners transferred from a Northern Ireland prison to a prison in England and Wales have qualified for early release under the End of Custody Licence scheme.

David Hanson: Of the 11 prisoners transferred from Northern Ireland to England and Wales since 2000 to serve their sentences under the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1997, none have been released under the End of Custody Licence (ECL) scheme.
	Eight of the 11 prisoners were released from custody before the ECL scheme was introduced and three remain in custody.
	Prisoners transferred from Northern Ireland to serve their sentences in England and Wales may be released on ECL provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Police Custody

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions prisoners were housed in police stations in each of the last six months due to prison overcrowding; and what additional funding has been provided to the police forces providing prison services.

David Hanson: The following table shows the occasions prisoners have been held under Operation Safeguard in England and Wales in each of the last six months.
	 [Official Report, 20 February 2008, Vol. 472, c. 8MC.]
	
		
			  2007  Occasions( 1) 
			 June 9,121 
			 July 747 
			 August 4,575 
			 September 6,820 
			 October 8,598 
			 November 6,830 
			 (1) One occasion means one prisoner night in a police cell. 
		
	
	The police forces involved charge NOMS for the cost of making police cells available to accommodate prisoners.

Wymott Prison: Occupational Health

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons prison staff from HMP Wymott have been sent for ATOS occupational health appointments; how many have been sent to such appointments in the last six months; and what the cost of these appointments has been.

Maria Eagle: In the last six months since 1 June 2007, 109 members of staff have been referred to the OH provider (Atos Healthcare) in accordance with PSO 8403, Management of Attendance Procedures. 31 members of staff have been referred to the occupational health nurse (Atos) for supportive reasons—where it has been felt after discussion between the staff member and the manager that referral to occupational health may be of benefit and support to the individual for a variety of reasons. 308 members of staff have been through the immunisation programme (provided by Atos) since April 2007.
	The costs of referrals are commercial in confidence.

Young Offenders: Injuries

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what injuries were incurred by boys held in  (a) Ashford,  (b) Bradford and  (c) Castington Young Offenders Institution following use of control and restraint in each month in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Maria Eagle: The information for Ashfield, Brinsford and Castington is set out in the following table and relates to the period until the end of October 2007. The collation of this statistical data commenced at Brinsford in January 2007 and is not available prior to this date. It should be noted that Castington record the incidents in some detail and that the incidents marked with an asterisks were subsequent to fights between young people, and that it is likely that the injuries were sustained in the fights rather than during restraint. The incidents are recorded nonetheless.
	
		
			  Establishment  Ashfield  Brinsford  Castington 
			 January 2006   Nose bleed. 
			 February 2006 1 - sprained ankle  Nose bleed and pain in wrist (L) 
			  6 — file archived  Graze to R eyebrow and cut lip* 
			Marks to neck and upper body* 
			Scratch to nose* 
			Pain in R thumb joint* 
			Marks to face* 
			Pain to L wrist and thumb* 
			 March2006 8 - file archived  Scratch to cheek 
			 April 2006 5 - file archived  Graze to knee* 
			 May 2006 4 - file archived  Redness to wrist 
			  1 - sprained wrist  Cut lip 
			  1 - scratched back  Bruised knuckle* 
			  1-scratched left forearm  Redness to wrist 
			  1 - tender left wrist   
			 June 2006 1 - scratched finger   
			  1 - redness to back of hand   
			  1 - file archived   
			  1 - self-harmed after C and R   
			  1 - swelling left wrist   
			  1 - redness to neck   
			 July 2006 1 - redness to wrist  Red mark to rib cage* 
			  1 - file archived  Red mark to cheek* 
			  1 - redness to wrist  Nose bleed 
			 August 2006 1 redness to wrist  Cut to L temple 
			  1 - file archived  Bite mark on chin* 
			  1 - redness to wrist  Bloody mouth* 
			Bloody mouth* 
			Swelling to R knuckle 
			Swelling to R knuckle* 
			Swelling to R knuckle* 
			 May 2006 4 - file archived  Redness to wrist 
			  1 - sprained wrist  Cut lip 
			  1 - scratched back  Bruised knuckle* 
			  1 - scratched left forearm  Redness to wrist 
			  1 - tender left wrist   
			 September 2006 1 - red marks on wrist and elbow  Bruised nose* 
			  1 - file archived  Swollen thumb 
			  1 - bruised elbow  Graze to nose and forehead. 
			Bruise to left cheek 
			Graze to nose. 
			Abrasion to L shoulder* 
			Graze to L shoulder 
			 October 2006 1 - red marks to neck   
			  1 - cut to left forearm   
			 November 2006 1 - back pain  Swelling to left eye 
			  1 - fracture ulna/radius  Swollen left thumb 
			  1 - swollen hand   
			  1 - swelling on thigh   
			  1 - red wrist   
			 December 2006 1 - bruise on neck  Bruise to face* 
			  1 - dizziness   
			 January 2007 1 - swelling under eye/red marks to both wrists Nil  
			 February 2007 1 - sore left ear/bruised Nil Cut lip* 
			  1 - handcuff marks to both wrists  Bruise to hand* 
			 March 2007  Small cut to head ( required suture) Fractured wrist 
			 April 2007  Nil Swollen left cheek 
			Swelling to left knee* 
			 May 2007 4 - grazes to face Nil  
			 June 2007  Graze to forehead Cut lip 
			Swelling above left eye* 
			 July 2007  Nil Sore wrist 
			Sore wrist 
			Graze to face* 
			 August 2007 1 - right side of head painful/complaining of neck pain Nil Graze to forehead 
			  1 - cuff marks noted to both wrists   
			 September 2007 1 - red marks to wrist Minor injury to forehead Sore wrist Painful elbow 
			  1 - scratch to upper body   
			  1 - bruising to upper arms/red arms   
			  1 - sprain to both wrists   
			 October 2007  Minor scratches Painful shoulder 
			Swollen hand* 
			 November 2007
			 December 2007

Crabs: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of brown crab stocks in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Assessments of brown crab stocks are made by Government scientists at The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. Stocks are managed at both national and Sea Fisheries Committee level. Stocks appear to be stable at the moment but most brown crab grounds available to fisheries are known and fully utilised. The stocks are assessed in six "stock management units" defined as sea areas in England and Wales. Major crab fisheries exist in the Central North Sea, Southern North Sea, and Western Channel, while smaller crab fisheries exist in the Eastern Channel, Celtic Sea, and Irish Sea. Most crab fisheries tend to be heavily exploited and it would be inadvisable for fishing effort to increase beyond current levels. Females predominate in landings but there is no evidence of reduced levels of recruitment.

Crabs: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) the devolved administrations and  (b) the EU on brown crab conservation; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA has regular contact with devolved Administrations on shellfish conservation in the course of general exchanges, and formally include them in consultations where the conservation of brown crabs is concerned. Should strategic developments in brown crab conservation measures be considered by any of the administrations there are open channels in which reciprocal impacts on neighbour's fisheries can be considered. No recent discussions have taken place with the EU on this issue.

European Fisheries Fund

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when the consultation on the UK Operational Programme for the European Union Fisheries Fund will begin; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to using the dispute resolution procedures set out in the devolution agreements to finalise the UK Operational Programme for fisheries; for what reasons he has not already used them; whether he plans to use them; whether he has set a deadline for the devolved administrations for reaching an agreement before using them; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he is required to hold a consultation on the UK Operational Programme for the European Fisheries Fund before he submits the Programme to the European Commission for approval; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: We aim to consult with fishermen, the aquaculture sector and other key stakeholders on the draft UK Operational Programme in early 2008. This will be a 12 week consultation.
	Agreement has now been reached between all UK Fisheries Ministers, regarding the division of the UK European Fisheries Fund budget and, as such, there is no dispute for which it would be necessary to use the dispute resolution procedures set out in the devolution agreements. DEFRA officials are working with their counterparts in the devolved Administrations to complete the UK Operational Programme, in order to enable the consultation to take place.
	Under the terms of the relevant EC Regulation (1198/2006), it is a requirement that a member state shall draw up its Operational Programme in close consultations with the regional, local, economic and social partners in the fisheries sector and all other appropriate bodies.

European Fisheries Fund

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 864-65W, on European Fisheries Fund, up to what percentage the European Commission can propose a cut in the UK's European Fisheries Fund budget; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the penalties that could be imposed by the European Commission for late submission and approval of the UK Operational Programme on Fisheries;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 863-64W, on the European Fisheries Fund, what assessment he has made of the effect that a reduction in the European Fisheries Fund budget for the UK would have on his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The European Commission has made projections for how much each member state will spend under each year of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) programme. For the UK this is as follows:
	
		
			   Current prices in euros 
			 2007 18,825,212 
			 2008 19,107,072 
			 2009 19,392,676 
			 2010 19,682,062 
			 2011 19,975,266 
			 2012 20,272,325 
			 2013 20,573,276 
		
	
	In the event that Operational Programmes (OPs) are not approved by the Commission by the end of 2007, the Commission could, in principle:
	(a) propose to the European Council and Parliament that funds (that is, the amount of projected spend for 2007) be transferred to later years of the programme; or
	(b) propose a cut in the EFF budget, in effect reducing the UK budget (by the amount of projected spend for 2007).
	All member states have experienced delays in implementing the programme. Until the UK OP has been approved, the UK cannot spend EFF funds and therefore spending will not match the Commission's projections. The Commission may therefore propose either of the aforementioned courses of action. I will support any Commission proposal and seek the necessary EU Council and Parliament agreement which would result in the 2007 allocation being carried forward.
	No assessment has be made of the effect that a reduction in the EFF budget for the UK would have on the Department, because it is not yet clear that any reduction will be imposed.

European Fisheries Fund

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 864W, on European Fisheries Fund, which EU member states  (a) have and  (b) have not submitted their Operational Programmes on fisheries to the European Commission for approval; which have had their Operational Programmes approved; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information regarding which EU member states have and have not submitted their European Fisheries Fund (EFF) Operational Programmes to the European Commission for approval, is not available.
	Of those programmes already submitted to the Commission, I understand the Commission is aiming to have the majority approved by the end of the year. I understand that Finland is the only EU member state to have had their EFF Operational Programme approved by the Commission to date.

Fisheries: Enforcement

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of aerial surveillance in support of fisheries enforcement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Aerial Surveillance supports fisheries enforcement, in that aircraft are tasked for some 1,000 hours (2006-07) to undertake monitoring of fisheries activity in English and Welsh waters. Tasking and monthly profiling of the aircraft patrols are directed from the operations room at the Marine and Fisheries Agency headquarters in London.

Fisheries: Enforcement

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by the Government on aerial surveillance in relation to fisheries protection in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Aerial surveillance in relation to marine fisheries protection in the waters around England and Wales is undertaken by private contractors hired by the Marine and Fisheries Agency. The cost to the Marine and Fisheries Agency (Sea Fisheries Inspectorate prior to 1 October 2005) of these activities is given in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost (£000) 
			 1999-2000 2,128 
			 2000-01 2,343 
			 2001-02 2,378 
			 2002-03 2,460 
			 2003-04 2,531 
			 2004-05 2,639 
			 2005-06 2,056 
			 2006-07 1,910 
		
	
	Figures for the periods before 1999-2000 are no longer readily available in the Department's accounting records.
	Aerial Surveillance in respect of the waters around Scotland is undertaken by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, on behalf of the Scottish Executive, and is not funded by the Department.

Lobsters: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of lobster stocks in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Lobster fisheries are assessed by Government scientists at The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and by some Sea Fisheries Committees. The fisheries are predominantly inshore, and known grounds are fully utilised. Assessments show that, while catch rates are stable or increasing and recruitment has recently been good, the stocks are heavily exploited tending towards overfishing. Expansion of the fishery is not recommended, and further conservation measures may be necessary.

Marine Animals

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which marine species in UK waters are in decline; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Around 6,000 marine species from UK waters (not including overseas territories) were recently assessed under a scientifically-reviewed process to decide which species should be placed on the Biodiversity Action Plan list for the UK. Criterion 3 of this assessment was for those species with a marked decline; i.e. those which have declined by 50 per cent. or more over the past 25 years. The decline may be in relation to population abundance, range or number of occupied sites. Where insufficient data exists, shorter time series have been extrapolated. 16 species were selected using this criterion:
	
		
			   Species 
			 Ammodytes marinus Lesser sandeel 
			 Amphianthus dohrnii Sea-fan anemone 
			 Anotrichium barbatum Red alga 
			 Atrina fragilis Fan mussel 
			 Cetorhinus maximus Basking shark 
			 Clavopsella navis Brackish hydroid 
			 Edwardsia timida Burrowing anemone 
			 Haliclystus auricula Stalked jellyfish 
			 Leptopsammia pruvoti Sunset cup coral 
			 Lucernariopsis campanulata Stalked jellyfish 
			 Lucernariopsis cruxmelitensis Stalked jellyfish 
			 Merlangius merlangus Whiting 
			 Merluccius merluccius European hake 
			 Osmerus eperlanus Smelt 
			 Ostrea edulis Native oyster 
			 Scomber scombrus Atlantic mackerel

Children: Maintenance

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who were being dealt with by the Child Support Agency (CSA) but have made voluntary financial agreements and are no longer being dealt with by the CSA in the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member.

Credit Unions

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which credit unions received funding from the Growth Fund in the last round of such funding.

James Plaskitt: The following organisations received funding in the latest Growth Fund procurement exercise. Since Growth Fund began over 100 organisations have been contracted to deliver the Growth Fund affordable lending service.
	
		
			  Organisation  Location 
			 1st Alliance Credit Union Kilwinning, Ayrshire 
			 6 Towns Credit Union West Bromwich, West Midlands 
			   
			 BACUP Credit Union in conjunction with sub contractor: Bacup Lancashire 
			 HHH Credit Union Rossendale, Lancashire 
			 Derby Loans Group Community Development Finance Institution Rosehill Business Park Derby 
			   
			 Derwent & Solway Housing Association (DRAMA) in conjunction with sub contractors: Workington Cumbria 
			 Cleator Moor Credit Union Cleator Moor 
			 Whitehaven Credit Union Whitehaven, Cumbria 
			 Workington Credit Union Workington, Cumbria 
			 Millom Credit Union Millom, Cumbria 
			 Carlisle Credit Union Carlisle, Cumbria 
			 Maryport and North Allerdale Credit Union Maryport, West Cumbria 
			   
			 Erewash Credit Union Ilkeston, Derbyshire 
			 Glasgow Credit Union Glasgow 
			   
			 Ipswich & Suffolk Credit Union in conjunction with sub contractor: Ipswich Suffolk 
			 Norfolk Credit Union Long Stratten, Norfolk 
			   
			 Landsker Credit Union Narberth, Pembrokeshire 
			 Leicester Credit Union Leicester, East Midlands 
			 Manchester Credit Union Beswick, Manchester 
			 Maun Valley Credit Union Mansfield, Nottinghamshire 
			 M for Money Credit Union Hayes, Middlesex 
			 Preston Moneyline Community Development Finance Institution Preston, Lancashire 
			 Riverside Credit Union Speke, Liverpool 
			 Salford Moneyline Community Development Finance Institution Salford Manchester 
			 Sefton Credit Union Southport, Merseyside 
			   
			 South Coast Moneyline Community Development Finance Institution in conjunction with sub contractor: Portsmouth Hampshire 
			 Community First Credit Union Devizes, Wiltshire 
			   
			 Street UK Community Development Finance Institution Hockley, Birmingham 
			 Tees Credit Union Thornaby, Stockton on Tees 
			 Thames Bank Credit Union Hounslow, Middlesex 
			 Unify Credit Union Wigan, Greater Manchester

Disability Living Allowance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  under what circumstances elderly people who have received duplicate payments of disability living allowance and attendance allowance are not required to repay the overpayments;
	(2)  what mechanisms will be used to determine whether elderly people who have incorrectly received duplicate payments of disability living allowance and attendance allowance knew they were being overpaid;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of elderly people from whom duplicate payments of disability living allowance and attendance allowance will be recovered; and what value of duplicate payments is expected to be recovered;
	(4)  what means will be used to recover duplicate payments of disability living allowance and attendance allowance from elderly people.

James Plaskitt: The details of these overpayments were set out in the statement to the House on 25 November 2007.
	Given the circumstances of these overpayments, it is extremely unlikely that people would have clearly known that they were being overpaid. Consequently we do not anticipate that the question of recovery will arise in many cases, if at all.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people on jobseeker's allowance who have been away from home  (a) within the United Kingdom and  (b) abroad without informing jobcentre plus in the last 12 months.

James Plaskitt: Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) regulations, which govern the payment of JSA, state that to receive JSA the jobseeker must be in Great Britain. Therefore when a jobseeker goes abroad on holiday JSA is not payable, nor credit of national insurance contributions awarded, for the period they are away.
	Holidays taken within Great Britain are allowed provided the jobseeker remains available and actively seeking employment for the duration of the holiday. There is however, a concession within the regulations which allows jobseekers to be treated as actively seeking employment for two weeks in a 12 month period. This needs to be agreed in advance with the Jobcentre before the holiday commences. There is no limit to the number of weeks a jobseeker can be away from home but usually if the holiday exceeds four weeks the Jobcentre would advise the jobseeker to make a claim in the area they are staying in.
	Information is not available on how many people failed to notify Jobcentre Plus that they were going on holiday, either in GB or abroad.

Social Security Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the percentage of people aged between 50 and 69 years who were claiming  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) new deal 50 plus and  (c) new deal 25 plus in (i) spring 2001, (ii) spring 2002, (iii) spring 2003, (iv) spring 2004, (v) spring 2005, (vi) spring 2006 and (vii) spring 2007, broken down by gender.

Caroline Flint: Jobseeker's allowance can be claimed only up to the age of 65 by men and up to the age of 60 by women.
	The available information on the percentage of people claiming jobseeker's allowance (JSA) as a proportion of the working age population aged between 50 and state pension age, broken down by gender, in the requested time series, is in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of people aged 50 to state pension age who were jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants 
			  Month ending May:  All  Male  Female 
			 2001 1.8 2.3 1.1 
			 2002 1.8 2.3 1.1 
			 2003 1.8 2.3 1.1 
			 2004 1.6 2.1 1.0 
			 2005 1.5 1.9 1.0 
			 2006 1.7 2.1 1.1 
			 2007 1.6 1.9 1.1 
			  Notes: 1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 2. Percentage population figures have been calculated using the appropriate year apart from 2007 where 2006 population estimates have been used.  Source:  Count of unemployment-related benefits, Jobcentre Plus computer systems ONS, Population Estimates Unit. 
		
	
	New deal 25 plus and new deal 50 plus are employment programmes to support people into work, not something which people claim.
	People aged 25-59 claiming JSA or national insurance credits for 18 out of last 21 months are mandated to all aspects of new deal 25 plus. Men aged between 60 and state pension age who have been claiming JSA or national insurance (NI) credits for 18 out of the last 21 months are only required to attend the Gateway stage of new deal 25 plus but can volunteer for other aspects of the programme.
	A woman cannot be mandated to new deal 25 plus beyond the current female state pension age. Prior to the 1 June 2007, people aged 50 plus who had been claiming JSA or NI credits were mandated to the Gateway stage only of new deal 25 plus. Disadvantaged customers may have early entry to new deal 25 plus at the discretion of their new deal adviser.
	New deal 50 plus is a voluntary programme for people who have been claiming a qualifying benefit for at least six months. The programme is also open to those whose partner has been claiming an increase in benefit for them for at least six months.
	The available information on the percentage of participants on new deal 25 plus and new deal 50 plus as a proportion of the working age population aged between 50 and state pension age, broken down by gender, in the requested time series, is in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage of people aged 50 to state pensions age who were new deal 25 plus and new deal 50 plus participants 
			   New deal 25 plus  New deal 50 plus 
			  As at May  each year  Total  Male  Female  Total  Male  Female 
			 2001 0.1 0.1 0.0 — — — 
			 2002 0.1 0.2 0.1 — — — 
			 2003 0.1 0.2 0.1 — — — 
			 2004 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			 2005 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.3 
			 2006 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.6 0.7 0.4 
			 2007 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.5 
			  Notes:  1. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 2. New deal 25 plus started in July 1998; new deal 50 plus started in April 2000. 3. Data on the number of people participating on the new deal 50 plus caseload is only available from January 2004. 4. Age is calculated at the point of joining the programme. 5. Percentage population figures have been calculated using the appropriate year apart from 2007 where 2006 population estimates have been used. 6. Data excludes people above state pension age but people above this age can participate on a voluntary basis on new deal 25 plus and new deal 50 plus providing they are in receipt of the pension credit.  Source: Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions ONS, Population Estimates Unit

British Overseas Territories: Nature Conservation

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government intends to take to attempt to increase the number of critically endangered animal species in UK Overseas Territories.

Meg Munn: The Government recognise the importance of protecting endangered species in the Overseas Territories and is working with the Overseas Territories to achieve this, through funding for programmes and projects and the provision of technical support.
	There are a number of Government funded programmes that contribute to the protection of endangered species in the Overseas Territories. Programmes include:
	The Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP), a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development funded programme, makes available approximately £1 million a year to assist the Overseas Territories with the implementation of their Environment Charters. The Charters include a list of commitments agreed by the Government and individual Overseas Territory governments to support sustainable use of environmental resources in the Overseas Territories. Among these are the protection and restoration of key habitats and species and support for general environmental management including protection of endangered species. OTEP has funded a feasibility study on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island on the eradication of rodents to safeguard the Albatross and the Gough Bunting. The results of the study are expected in March 2008. Funding has also been provided this year to produce a management plan for Steeple Jason Island in the Falkland Islands aimed at better management and protection of Albatross and Petrels from outside influences including visitors and non-native invasive plants and animals.
	The Darwin Initiative, a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) funded programme that contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of the world's biodiversity, including protection of endangered species. UK experts work with local communities and organisations to help countries rich in biodiversity but who, through lack of resources, are unable to meet their obligations under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The Initiative has funded 13 projects totalling around £1.5 million in the Overseas Territories since it was launched in 1992. Projects have included the Montserrat Centre Hills and the Cayman Island "In Ivan's Wake" projects to put in place measures and legislation to protect and safeguard their native flora and fauna and endangered species.
	DEFRA also pay an annual subscription of £36,000 to the Agreement for the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels (ACAP) Secretariat. DEFRA has also agreed to co-fund, with OTEP and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the establishment of an ACAP Co-ordinator for the Falkland Islands and the South Atlantic Overseas Territories. The co-ordinator will be responsible for ensuring up to date information concerning Albatross and Petrel populations in the South Atlantic Overseas Territories is fed into the ACAP Secretariat for dissemination to other interested parties.
	The Flagship Species Fund, administered by Fauna and Flora International, an international conservation charity, supported by DEFRA has made approximately £100,000 a year available since 2002 to provide practical support for the conservation of endangered species and their habitats in developing countries, including in the Overseas Territories. The Flagship Species Fund provided £21,800 to support a project to eradicate rodents on Eagle Island in the British Indian Ocean Territory to safeguard native birds and turtles. DEFRA has allocated £75,000 to the Flagship Species Fund for 2008-09.

Cuba: Politics and Government

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the  (a) level of corruption,  (b) human rights situation and  (c) government policy on homosexuality in Cuba.

Meg Munn: Our assessment reveals that respect for human rights falls far below international standards. Of particular concern to us, are the high numbers of political prisoners, violation of civil, political and economic rights and continued government repression of dissidents. Further information on our views of the human rights situation can be found in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's annual human rights report. A copy of the most recent report can be found in the Library of the House.
	Transparency International rated Cuba 10 out of 32 in the Americas in its 2007 corruption survey. The Cuban government is aware of the risks of corruption and take active measures to counter it. The Government supports this aim and indeed a Government representative attended an international anti-corruption conference in Havana in November 2007.
	Our assessment of Cuban government policy on homosexuality is positive overall. The Cuban National Center for Sex Education is a government funded body which advocates tolerance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues on the island and which has recently proposed legislation on some of these issues.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in co-operation with its EU partners to prevent an escalation of conflict in the Great Lakes region of the Democratic Republic of Congo following the ACP-EU joint parliamentary meeting earlier this month.

Meg Munn: The UK and our partners have regularly urged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda to find a political solution to the conflict in eastern DRC. The EU's special representative was involved in the negotiations which led to the joint DRC-Rwandan communiqué signed in Nairobi on 9 November, a potentially important step towards peace in the region. The DRC has agreed to produce a detailed plan of action for both countries to follow on 1 December. We, and our international partners, will encourage them to fulfil the commitments they make.
	The African, Caribbean and pacific-EU joint parliamentary meeting resulted in a resolution urging that those guilty of atrocities in eastern DRC to be held account for their actions. EU ambassadors have recently lobbied the DRC Minster for Foreign Affairs to ask for proceedings relating to the death of the human rights defender Serge Maheshe to resume. The EU also leads a project to promote reform of the security sector in DRC. One of its aims is to improve discipline and accountability among members of the armed forces. The UK is active on the issue of sexual violence in DRC, and staff from our Embassy and the Department for International Development office in Kinshasa have lobbied the government and carried out other initiatives targeted at this problem, including work to promote justice and reduce impunity.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Government are gravely concerned at the situation in North Kivu, which has severe humanitarian consequences, hinders development and has the potential to undermine peace and stability in the region. It has led to around 375,000 people being displaced since December 2006 and a widespread problem of brutal sexual violence and other atrocities.
	The UK is committed to finding a lasting solution to the violence. My noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, and other Ministers have spoken with President Kabila recently, urging the Congolese Government to continue to look for a political solution to the problems affecting the east of the country. We are closely engaged with our international partners in efforts to bring the violence to an end.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in co-operation with its international partners to ensure that all rebel group leaders in Darfur attend the next set of peace progress negotiations.

Meg Munn: The UK is supporting the African Union and UN-led Darfur political process. This mediation effort is currently focused on encouraging the rebel movements to unify further and agree on common platforms ahead of negotiations. Along with our international partners, including the US and France, we have pressed the rebel movements to engage fully in the political process and agree to a cessation of hostilities. We have made clear publicly and directly to the rebel movements that there will be consequences for any party that seeks to obstruct the political process.

Asthma: Research

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has allocated to research into asthma since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's total expenditure on health research has been devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. During this time, the Department has also funded research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS. Total reported expenditure on asthma by research active NHS organisations and similar expenditure by the Department's national research programmes, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Respiratory disease, including asthma, 2  Asthma 
			 1997-98 n/a 0.2 
			 1998-99 n/a 0.2 
			 1999-2000 n/a 0.9 
			 2000-01 n/a 0.1 
			 2001-02 n/a 0.6 
			 2002-03 24.5 0.6 
			 2003-04 30.7 0.8 
			 2004-05 31.2 0.7 
			 2005-06 32.0 0.4 
			 2006-07 33.3 0.4 
			 n/a = Not available 
		
	
	In addition, a national research and development programme on asthma management ran from 1996 to early 2004 and supported a total of 33 projects throughout the United Kingdom at a total cost of £4.9 million.
	The Department funds personal award schemes to support the training of promising researchers. Since 1997 some nine awards have been made to individuals working in areas focused on, or related to, asthma at a total cost of £3.2 million.
	Implementation of the Department's research strategy Best Research for Best Health has resulted in an expansion of our research programmes and in significant new funding opportunities for health research. The Guy's and St. Thomas'/Kings College London Biomedical Research Centre, formed this year, will for example undertake research on asthma and allergy and has been allocated a budget of £4.75 million over five years for that purpose. The Research for Patient Benefit programme meanwhile will fund four new projects on asthma at a cost of £0.5 million.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body that receives its grant in aid from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	Available MRC spend figures for research on asthma are as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2000-01 2.9 
			 2001-02 3.0 
			 2002-03 2.8 
			 2003-04 2.8 
			 2004-05 2.6 
			 2005-06 2.4 
			 (1). Expenditure data was not collected centrally from NHS research active organisations prior to 2002.  (2.) Research active NHS organisations' annual research and development reports identify expenditure in some 16 national priority areas, including respiratory disease. Those reports do not include separate details of expenditure on asthma research.   Note:  Earlier comparable figures are not available.

Drugs: Misuse

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what response he has made to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction's 2007 Annual Report, The State of the Drug Problems in Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government welcomed the publication of the European Monitoring Centre on Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Annual Report on 22 November 2007.
	They also welcome the report as an excellent example of what can be gained by European countries working in partnership in tackling the harms associated with drug misuse.
	The report reflects the United Kingdom's success in increasing the numbers of people in drug treatment, with the associated benefits that follow for individuals, their families and the wider community.
	In looking forward the report highlights the need for continued vigilance in particular areas, including the transmission of infectious diseases among drug users. This is an issue on which the UK is already undertaking specific programmes of work to improve the position and we are pleased that more recent data than that within the EMCDDA Report, published by the Health Protection Agency in October this year shows progress, particularly in the proportion of injecting drug users contracting HIV.
	The report also refers to the outcome studies being undertaken in the UK to ensure that treatment is being delivered on the foundation of an established evidence base so that it can be as effective as possible.

Heart Diseases: Transplant Surgery

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures his Department holds on international 30-day mortality rates following heart transplants; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Department does not hold information on international 30-day mortality rates following heart transplants. The International Registry for Heart and Lung Transplantation reports international survival data. This is available on the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation website at:
	www.ishlt.org

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of pseudomonas infection were acquired in hospitals in each health trust in England in each year from 2002 to 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) receives reports from microbiology laboratories of cases of blood stream infections caused by Pseudomonas in its voluntary reporting scheme. These bacteria can cause a range of infections from mild skin infections to urinary tract infections. They can also cause a variety of bloodstream infections, particularly in patients with serious burns and those who are severely immunosuppressed such as cancer and AIDS patients. Most infection cases are reported from intensive care, burns, spinal injuries or cancer units.
	Information about whether the infection was acquired in hospital is not collected routinely.
	Information is not available by acute national health service trust.
	
		
			  Total patient episodes( 1)  of Pseudomonas spp.( 2)  blood stream infections (bacteraemia) in England 
			   Total patient episode 
			 2002 1,762 
			 2003 2,292 
			 2004 2,381 
			 2005 2,615 
			 2006 3,098 
			 (1) A patient episode comprises all isolates testing positive to the organism within two weeks of original isolate date. (2) spp refers to a range of pseudomonas micro-organisms.  Source: HPA—LabBase 2 (provisional data 21 November 2007) 
		
	
	The increased rate of reporting of cases of Pseudomonas is comparable to the increase seen for all blood poisoning via the HPA's voluntary surveillance scheme. The increase is partly due to better reporting, surveillance and testing and may also reflect a changing hospital population, with more patients who are vulnerable to infection through conditions which compromise their immune systems being treated.

Maidstone Hospital: Clostridium

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the strategic health authority (SHA) was first informed of the  (a) first and  (b) second outbreak of  clostridium difficile at Maidstone hospital; and what steps were taken by the SHA.

Ann Keen: holding answer 27 November 2007
	The Health Care Commission (HCC) report states that the former Kent and Medway Strategic Health Authority (SHA) was informed of the second outbreak on 12 April 2006.
	South East Coast SHA has advised officials that its Director of Public Health then held an outbreak meeting on 13 April 2006 and the acting SHA Chief Executive was informed at this point.
	During May 2006 outbreak continued to be managed by the trust and Ken health protection unit (HPU), keeping the SHA informed. The HCC report states that the SHA did not take any direct action to follow up the outbreak as the HPU, where the specialist knowledge resided, agreed to keep the SHA fully informed.
	At the end of June 2006 the HPU produced a report to the South East Coast SHA and in July the SHA asked the HCC to conduct an investigation.

Methadone

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were receiving methadone in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS trust.

Dawn Primarolo: Data are collected on the basis of those in receipt of substitute prescribing but is not broken down to the level of the type of medication that is being prescribed. Therefore, we are unable to provide any data on the numbers being specifically prescribed methadone.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Yorkshire and Humberside

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people contracted MRSA in Yorkshire and the Humber in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the requested format. The available information is from the mandatory surveillance scheme of methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections in acute national health service trusts in England. Data is reported by the trust whose laboratory processes the specimen, but this may not necessarily reflect where the infection was acquired
	Data for acute NHS Trusts in the Yorkshire and Humber region is provided in the following table.
	This information and any further information on Health Protection Agency data for NHS Acute Trusts is also available at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics__az/hai/Mandatory_ Results.htm
	
		
			  Number of reported MRSA bloodstream infections (bacteraemias) for NHS trusts in the Yorkshire and Humber Region (England) 
			  Number 
			   April to March each year 
			  Trust  2002-03  2003 - 04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Airedale NHS Trust 10 20 18 16 15 
			 Barnsley Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 18 22 13 17 16 
			 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 48 44 75 58 59 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 39 37 40 28 31 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 33 46 27 29 26 
			 Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust 11 6 9 8 11 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 75 102 90 101 59 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 165 204 200 165 180 
			 Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 95 87 83 70 63 
			 North Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust 34 28 40 23 48 
			 Rotherham General Hospitals NHS Trust 14 25 7 21 14 
			 Scarborough and NE Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 15 33 19 13 16 
			 Sheffield Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 0 2 1 2 0 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 91 105 101 79 60 
			 York Health Services NHS Trust 16 31 28 22 14 
			 Total 664 792 751 652 612 
			  Source: Health Protection Agency 
		
	
	As the Prime Minister made clear, deep cleaning will occur in all hospitals, starting this winter, with resources allocated through the strategic health authorities (SHAs). All trusts will submit costed deep clean plans to their lead commissioners who will monitor performance against this plan, as per normal performance management arrangements, and SHAs will take an overview as to progress across their area. Trusts are aiming to complete all deep cleans by the end of March 2008. SHAs will be expected to report on implementation across their regions to the Department.

Severn Barrage

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform who will lead the feasibility study on the prospects for a Severn Barrage; which organisations will be contributing to the study; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 908W.

Severn Barrage

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the expected cost is of the feasibility study on the prospects for a Severn Barrage; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 908W.

Severn Barrage

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects the feasibility study on the prospects for a Severn Barrage to begin; how long he expects the study to take; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 908W.

Departmental Secondment

Theresa May: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from his Department in each year since 1997; which organisations staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year;
	(2)  how many secondments of staff were made  (a) to and  (b) from the Office of the Leader of the House in each year since 1997; which organisations' staff were seconded (i) to and (ii) from; how many staff were seconded in each year; for how long each secondment lasted; and what the cost was of each secondment in each year.

Gillian Merron: I have placed in the Libraries of the House details of secondments, to and from the Cabinet Office since 2002-03, including the Office of the Leader of the House. The Cabinet Office does not hold the information in the detail requested for secondments before April 2002.
	Costs of secondments cannot be provided as salary and pension undertakings are split according to the terms of each secondment and are therefore not held centrally. It is, however, usual for the host organisation to bear the cost for a secondee.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in place to compensate individuals for losses arising from fraudulent activity using data released by HM Revenue and Customs inadvertently or by virtue of official error; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 26 November  2007
	The police continue to have no reason to believe the data have found its way into the wrong hands and are not aware that it has been used for fraudulent purposes or criminal activity.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

James Brokenshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the potential liability HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) may be under to provide compensation to financial institutions or individuals arising from any financial fraud committed against child benefit recipients whose identity details have been lost by HMRC.

Jane Kennedy: The police continue to have no reason to believe the data has found its way into the wrong hands and are not aware that it has been used for fraudulent purposes or criminal activity.

HM Revenue and Customs

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his statement of 20 November 2007,  Official Report, columns 1101-18, on HM Revenue and Customs, what assessment he has made on whether the missing computer discs remain on Government property.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 27 November 2007
	The police continue to have no reason to believe the data has found its way into the wrong hands and are not aware that it has been used for fraudulent purposes or criminal activity.

Immigrants: Herefordshire

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many immigrants lived in Herefordshire in each year since 1997, broken down by country of origin; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 5 December 2007:
	 As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your question regarding how many immigrants lived in Herefordshire in each year since 1997, broken down by country of origin. (170950)
	The data you requested are not available for Local Authorities. Census data on the population of Herefordshire by country of birth are available on the Neighbourhood Statistics website for 2001 only. The movement of individuals from overseas into Local Authorities is published on the National Statistics website. However onwards movements within the UK are not recorded and therefore data are not available for the numbers of immigrants living in a Local Authority at a particular point in time.